By: Todd Anderson, Associate AD/Communications & Strategic Initiatives
CANTON, Ohio – Freshmen
Mariel Mencia Martinez (50-Yard Freestyle) and
Nathalia Silva (1000-Yard Freestyle) both picked up event titles with school-record performances, while the 200 Yard Medley relay squad finished third to conclude the evening session and cap a big day for the UNC Pembroke swimming team at the Great Midwest Athletic Conference/Mountain East Conference Championships on Wednesday.
Silva began the parade to the podium by registering a school and new meet record on the way to edging Hillsdale's Leah Tunney by 0.1 seconds for first place in the 1,000-Yard Freestyle. Silva's time of 10:17.88 bested her own school record by nearly 18 seconds, while also eclipsing the 2-year-old meet record by almost 12 seconds. The performance also helped the Brazilian establish an NCAA qualifying time (B Standard) in both the 1,000- and 500-Yard Freestyle events.
Mencia Martinez had a big day as well in her collegiate debut. The freshman bested Silva's school record in the 50-Yard Freestyle by nearly two seconds in Wednesday morning's prelims of the event, and then bested that mark with a time of 23.98 seconds in the finals. Her finals time was .07 seconds faster than Hillsdale's Marie Taylor, and helped the UNCP newcomer tally an NCAA qualifying time (B Standard) as well.
Wednesday's action was capped with another school record performance by the 200-Yard Medley Relay team. The quartet of
Jaycie Knight,
Sarah Morden,
Bianca Bateman and Mencia Martinez topped the 2-month-old program superlative in the event by more than three seconds on the way to a third-place showing. The performance helped UNCP's squad capture first team all-MEC honors as the top-finishing team from the league.
The Black & Gold will continue action at the four-day event on Thursday. The preliminaries of the 400-Yard Individual Medley are scheduled to start the day at 10 a.m.
